Women’s Cross Country Wins Elon Invitational

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BURLINGTON, N.C. – The UNCG women’s cross country team took home the team title at the fifth annual Elon Invitational Saturday morning as the Spartans placed three of the top four finishers in the race to edge out host Elon for the top spot. UNCG finished with 28 points after placing runners in first, second, fourth, 10th and 11th while the Phoenix were second with 29 total points (3,5,6,7,8).

Senior Shaina Sumney (Washington, Pa./Trinity) returned to competitive racing after redshirting last year and won the individual title with a time of 17:36 in the 5,000-meter race. Sophomore Lydia Saina (Eldoret, Kenya/Kapkenda Girls School) placed second in the race with a career-best time of 17:39. Saina’s time is over a minute better than her best time last year as a freshman when she turned in a time of 18:47.29 at the Southern Conference Championships.

Senior Chelsea Sumney (Washington, Pa./Trinity) was the Spartans’ third best finisher as she placed four with a time of 17:47. Sumney won last season’s Elon Invitational title with a time of 17:44, winning by over 34 seconds.

Redshirt freshman Eira Jensen (Holmveien, Norway/Sortland VGS) made her cross country debut after redshirting last fall and placed 10th overall with a time of 18:33. Redshirt freshman Katherine Link (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) also made her cross county debut and finished 11th with a time of 18:45.